Dhenkanal: At least four vegetable vendors were killed and five others injured when the wall of an abandoned rice mill in a weekly market in Alasua under Dhenkanal Town police station collapsed on Sunday morning.
The mishap occurred at around 8.30 am. The vegetable vendors were busy selling their produces when the stone wall of the 50-year-old abandoned D Hansaraj Rice Mill came crashing down killing four on the spot.
The deceased were identified as Ramachandra Patra of Gengutia, Abhimanyu Biswal of Gurujanga, Mayadhar Mallick of Kamagarar and Sangram Sahu of Chainpurpatna. The injured persons included Kamalesh of Nuagada Mandar, Sarat Rout of Ganjara, Jyotrimayee Pati of Hoursing Board Colony and Kina Behera of Kinapal.
Soon after the accident, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Odisha Fire Services and local Dhanekanal Town police station personnel conducted the rescue operation. Five others are undergoing treatment for serious injuries at the Dhenakanal District Headquarters Hospital.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was on a week-long visit to New Delhi, conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved families and announces an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). He also directed for free treatment of the injured persons.